What are the Best Ways to Keep My Home Insurance Premiums from Increasing?

October 17, 2019

There are several things you can do to minimize your home insurance costs.

The factors for New York State home insurance rating are less under the control of the insured than they are for auto insurance.

Some of the significant factors influencing your homeowners insurance rates include:

Construction type - IE: Frame buildings rate higher than masonry.
Year of construction - Newer homes share lower premiums.
Proximity to fire protection - Homes near hydrants and fire departments pay less than those in outlying rural areas.
Susceptibility to catastrophic losses - Areas susceptible to hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, etc. will pay higher premiums.
Your location’s loss history - If your current home has had prior losses, the past can follow a new buyer. Also, an area that has had a history of problems with arson, vandalism, or other types of losses will be negatively reflected in rates.

On the other hand, there are variables that you can control and that will help to positively impact your home insurance rates:

Updates to utilities - Updates to the roof, plumbing, electrical and heating systems may help reduce premiums with some programs.
Your credit/insurance score - Yep. Responsible use of credit can improve your insurance score and positively impact your insurance rates
Bundling - Writing your auto and home insurance with the same company can result in significant savings for both lines of insurance.
Shop - Shopping for home insurance is similar to the process of shopping for auto insurance. An Independent insurance agent offers options from multiple companies and may be your best opportunity to find the best fit for your situation.

If you have additional questions about how to save money on your New York State homeowners insurance premiums please feel welcome to call us at 607-324-7500. Or, if you are not a current client, you can request a quote from our agency right online here: https://www.ryanagency.com/request-a-quote

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.